Flexible fire-resisting shutter and slat therefor.



Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

E. I-I. MOGLOUD. FLEXIBLE FIRE RESISTING SHUTTER AND SLAT THBBEPOB..

APPLICATION FILED 1128.10, 190B. v

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

EDWARD I-I. MCCLOUD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FLEXIBLE FIRE-RESISTING SHUTTER AND SLAT THEREFOR.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. MCCLOUD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flexible Fire-Resisting Shutters and Slats Therefor, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical formof metal-clad or sheathed slat adapted more especially for theconstruction of iiexible fire-resisting curtains.

The invention is embodied in the construction herein shown and describedand then pointed out in the appended claim, the invention not beingconfined to precisely the details shown.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view showingfractions of two slats from a shutter or curtain, said slats beingstrung on a portion of a connecting tape or band; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection transversely of two such slats and longitudinally of the tape,and also illustrating how the curtain is flexed for rolling upon aroller.

In the views 3 and 4 designate the parts of a duplex core or fillingconsisting of two strips of wood or other material preferably of lightweight and adapted to retard radiation and conduction of heat. The saidstrips are shown to be rectangular in cross section, but they are notnecessarily so, and they extend parallelly side by side. The core stripsare inclosed by two sheet-metal strips 5 and 6. These metal stripsembrace the opposite sides of the core but the stri 5 is bent to extendsubstantially entirely across the opposite edges of the core. In otherwords the strip 5 is a trough like member in which in manufacture thecore is most conveniently assembled, and through the opstanding edges ofwhich the tapes can be conveniently preliminarily passed prior tosecuring the strip 6 in place. That portion of the strip 5 which is bentacross the lower edge of t-he core has its edge bent upward and thenfolded backward to form a hook; as seen at 5a, and that portion of thesame strip which extends across the upper edge of the core has its edgebent downward and backward to form a hook as seen at 5". The metal strip6 has its lower edge bent inward, downward and outward to form a hook6a, and the upper edge of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 10, 1908.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910. Serial No. 415,114.

said strip has its edge bent inward, upward and outward to form a hookG". The hooks 5"1 and (3a are engaged with each other, and the hooks 5band 6b are similarly engaged with each other, each pair to form a jointor seam at the opposite corners of the same end of the slat, as shown,thus effectually inclosing the core around its sides and edges. Therethe metal strip 5 extends across the upper outer corner of the corestrip 3 itis inclined so as to present at that corner a beveled effect,as seen at 5c. It will be observed that the bent edges of the strip 5cross the space between the two core strips, and said bent edges areprovided with slots like that indicated at 7 alining` vertically witheach other and with the space between the core strips.

The character 8 designates the tape, of which there will preferably betwo or more, and upon which the slats are strung to form the web of theshutter or curtain. The tape is passed through the slots 7 and betweenthe strips 3 and #l and said slots are preferably of a length greaterthan the width or diameter of the flexible member, or so that the metalsheathing can, independently of the tape, expand and contract on thecore longitudinally when subjected to variations in heat.

The inclined edges 5c will preferably occur in the curtain or shutter onthat side toward which the curtain is flexed and said inclined portionsare more especially for the purpose of permitting the slats to lie closetogether at their edges and at the same time permit the curtain to beflexed as stated and as clearly depicted in Fig. 2. It is hardlynecessary to add that in the curtain the flexible member or members canbe permanently attached to the lowermost slat and that the tapes attheir upper ends can be attached to a roller or other operating devicein any suitable manner and as is now the common and well-known practicein constructing and suspending curtains composed of slats strung onflexible cord-like members.

In another application for patent of the United States pendingconcurrently herewith, filed January 31, 1908, S. No. 413,518, I haveshown a construction somewhat like that herein particularly described'except that it is provided with a water-shedding lip. IVhile thecurtain shown in my former application is better adapted for closingexposed openings, the slat herein shown is perhaps in many instanceseqnallT well adapted for interior openings.

that claini and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A Slat for the construction of a flexible cui-tain 01 shutter comprisinga duplex core of a poor conductor of heat, and a metal IQheathingl forsaid core composed of two parts one of which is bent aci-oss one side ofsaid core and across the space between the parte` ot' the core, an@l isalso foin'ied with an inclined portion 5C, the two pai-ts et Said l l ll sheathingbeing Seainecl togethei` at opposite corners of the Same Sideof the Slat, and openings in that )ortion ont' the sheathing where itextends across the space between the core parts toi' the passage of aflexible conneeting; and suspending' lnelnbel' or menibers.

EDVRD H. MCCLOUD.

Witnesses ANNA TERESA KING,

lolnnzr lol. COCHRAN.

